A red state, South Dakota has not elected a Democrat to federal office since 2008, when incumbent senator Tim Johnson and incumbent U.S. representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin both won re-election. Despite not electing Democrats to statewide or federal office, Senate Minority Leader Billie Sutton came within 11,500 votes of winning the governorship in 2018, the closest gubernatorial race since the state moved to four-year gubernatorial terms, beginning in 1974.[a][2][3]Republicans have held control of both chambers of the state legislature since 1995.[4]
Incumbent Republican senator Mike Rounds, who was re-elected in 2020 with 65.7% of the vote, is running for re-election to a third term in office.[5] He is being challenged in the Republican primary by Navy veteran Justin McNeal.[6]
Former South Dakota state trooper Julia Beaudion is running for the Democratic nomination.[7] Brian Bengs, who was the Democratic nominee in 2022 for South Dakota's Class III Senate seat held by John Thune, is running as an independent candidate.[8]
Incumbent Republican representative Dusty Johnson, who was re-elected in 2024 with 72.0% of the vote, announced in June 2025 that he would not seek re-election and would instead run for governor.[9] Incumbent state attorney general Marty Jackley, state senator Casey Crabtree, and businessman James Bialota are running for the Republican nomination.[10][11][12]
Term-limited Republican governor Kristi Noem, who was re-elected in 2022 with 62.0% of the vote, resigned on January 25, 2025, following her confirmation as Secretary of Homeland Security by the United States Senate.[15] Lieutenant governor Larry Rhoden became the governor of South Dakota immediately following her resignation. He is running for a full term in office in 2026.[16]
Rhoden is being challenged in the Republican primary by incumbent U.S. representative Dusty Johnson, South Dakota House speaker Jon Hansen, and businessman Toby Doeden.[17][18][19]Dakota State University student Robert Arnold is the only Democratic candidate to have announced a bid.[20][21]
Incumbent Republican attorney general Marty Jackley, who was elected in 2022 unopposed, declined to seek re-election and is instead running for the state's U.S. House seat.[22]
Former state senator and state representative Lance Russell, as well as McPherson County state's attorney Austin Hoffman, are running for the Republican nomination.[23][24]
Incumbent Republican secretary of state Monae Johnson, who was first elected in 2022 with 63.9% of the vote, is running for re-election to a second term in office.[25] She is being challenged in the Republican primary by state representative Heather Baxter.[26]
Former state trooper Terrence Davis is running for the Democratic nomination.[27]
Treasurer
Incumbent Republican state treasurer Josh Haeder was re-elected in 2022 with 67.0% of the vote. He is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term in office.[28]
State senator and former state representative Jeff Monroe is running for the Republican nomination.[29]
Auditor
Incumbent Republican state auditor Rich Sattgast was re-elected in 2022 with 62.7% of the vote. He is term-limited and cannot seek re-elction to a third consecutive term in office.[28]
Sioux Falls city councilman David Barranco is running for the Republican nomination.[30]
Amendment L would raise the vote threshold for state constitutional amendments on the ballot from a simple majority of 50% to a supermajority of 60%. It requires a simple majority to pass.[31][32]
Sioux Falls will hold a mayoral election on June 2, 2026, alongside the statewide primaries, due to the passage of House Bill 1130 in 2025.[33] House Bill 1130 requires local and municipal elections to be held either alongside the statewide primaries or the general election.[34]
Incumbent mayor Paul TenHaken was re-elected in 2022 with 73.4% of the vote. He is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term in office.[35][36] City councilor and former Republican state representative Christine Erickson, state senator and 2022 Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jamie Smith, 2022 mayoral candidate David Zokaites, and businessman Joe Batcheller have announced runs for mayor.[37][38][39][40]
↑While the 2018 election was the closest in terms of margin of victory since the state moved to four-term gubernatorial terms in 1974, the elections of 1960, 1958, 1936, 1912, 1898, and 1896 were closer.
↑Ellis, Jonathan (August 22, 2017). "Last Democratic majority leader, '78 governor candidate, dies". Argus Leader. Retrieved January 29, 2026. Democrats last controlled a chamber in the South Dakota Legislature in 1993-1994, when they emerged from the 1992 election with 20 of 35 Senate seats.
↑George, Angela (May 23, 2025). "Councilman David Barranco announces his run for South Dakota state auditor". Argus Leader. Retrieved January 28, 2026. With his term on the Sioux Falls City Council ending next year, David Barranco announced Friday, May 23, he is running for South Dakota's state auditor position.
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